The highest percentage of British Chileans is found in Punta Arenas, followed by Santiago, Valparaíso, Concepción, Viña del Mar and Antofagasta.
The main British communities in Chile, or La Colonia Britanica, were located in Valparaíso, Punta Arenas, and Concepción.
A significant number of them settled in Magallanes in Province, especially the city of Punta Arenas when it flourished as a major global seaport for ships crossing the Strait of Magellan from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
Even today their influence is apparent in specific areas, such as the banks and the navy, as well as in certain social activities, such as football (soccer), horse racing, and the custom of drinking tea.
[citation needed] Investment from Britain contributed to Chile's prosperity, and British seamen helped the Chilean navy become a force in the South Pacific.
[citation needed] British immigrants were also important in the northern zone of the country during the saltpetre boom, in the ports of Iquique and Pisagua.
[9] British technology in mining, railway, maritime infrastructure, and other industrial applications predominated in Chile in the latter half of the 19th century, continuing through the 1930s.
[citation needed] Over 1,000,000 Chileans may have British (English, Scottish and Welsh) or Irish origin, amounting to about 4% of Chile's population.